Country Director, Mozambique
Wildlife Conservation Society
Mozambique
Posted on Sep 2, 2025
01-Sep-2025
Country Director, Mozambique
Mozambique
Global Conservation Full-Time
GLOBAL CONSERVATION
Job Description
Position: Country Director
Reports to: Regional Director-EAMWIO
Positions Managed: Heads of Departments, Thematic Leads, Technical Advisor(s)
Location: In-country (remote not an option)
Country Program/Sector: Global Conservation Program
Position Type: Full-time
Scope Capacity: Country
Coordinates with: WCS Regional team (Director, HR, Thematic leads); Global Resources and Grants, Management & Compliance
Expected travel: Up to 35% of time, as and when required to WCS field sites, regional and internationally when required.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organisation established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organisations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilisation of natural resources.
More information at www.wcs.org
About WCS Mozambique Program
WCS established a country program in Mozambique in 2012 with two primary objectives: to increase the protection of Niassa National Reserve and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-management of the Reserve; and strengthen national-level protected area management by helping to improve policies and reinforcing the government’s ability to implement wildlife crime legislation through strategic engagement with government agencies in Maputo.
Since 2016, WCS's Mozambican program has expanded its activities to support the government on reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation, through the improvement of the application of the mitigation hierarchy in the country, by mapping biodiversity priorities and integrating the into the national spatial planning exercises, and contributing to the achievement of international targets (identification of Key Biodiversity areas and implementation of Red Listing assessments). Since late 2018, WCS has started a Marine Program in Mozambique focused on the conservation and protection of sharks and rays, coral reefs and marine mammals.
About the Country Director position:
The Country Program Director will oversee the country program's implementation and oversight. S/he will lead the development and management of WCS Mozambique’s conservation program in line with the WCS 2030 and WCS Regional 2025 strategies. The position holder will be responsible for: leading on the establishment of program priorities, strategy, and approaches for terrestrial and marine conservation and climate adaptation initiatives; supporting conservation project development and implementation; fundraising and grants oversight; coordination with government and non-government partners; directing national and international attention to the country for conservation; influencing policies that promote preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development, while reducing vulnerability to future climate and environmental change; and, representing WCS at meetings and events.
Major Responsibilities:
Reports to: Regional Director-EAMWIO
Positions Managed: Heads of Departments, Thematic Leads, Technical Advisor(s)
Location: In-country (remote not an option)
Country Program/Sector: Global Conservation Program
Position Type: Full-time
Scope Capacity: Country
Coordinates with: WCS Regional team (Director, HR, Thematic leads); Global Resources and Grants, Management & Compliance
Expected travel: Up to 35% of time, as and when required to WCS field sites, regional and internationally when required.
About Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS):
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organisation established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organisations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilisation of natural resources.
More information at www.wcs.org
About WCS Mozambique Program
WCS established a country program in Mozambique in 2012 with two primary objectives: to increase the protection of Niassa National Reserve and improve the conservation status of its elephants through co-management of the Reserve; and strengthen national-level protected area management by helping to improve policies and reinforcing the government’s ability to implement wildlife crime legislation through strategic engagement with government agencies in Maputo.
Since 2016, WCS's Mozambican program has expanded its activities to support the government on reconciling economic development with biodiversity conservation, through the improvement of the application of the mitigation hierarchy in the country, by mapping biodiversity priorities and integrating the into the national spatial planning exercises, and contributing to the achievement of international targets (identification of Key Biodiversity areas and implementation of Red Listing assessments). Since late 2018, WCS has started a Marine Program in Mozambique focused on the conservation and protection of sharks and rays, coral reefs and marine mammals.
About the Country Director position:
The Country Program Director will oversee the country program's implementation and oversight. S/he will lead the development and management of WCS Mozambique’s conservation program in line with the WCS 2030 and WCS Regional 2025 strategies. The position holder will be responsible for: leading on the establishment of program priorities, strategy, and approaches for terrestrial and marine conservation and climate adaptation initiatives; supporting conservation project development and implementation; fundraising and grants oversight; coordination with government and non-government partners; directing national and international attention to the country for conservation; influencing policies that promote preservation of biodiversity and sustainable development, while reducing vulnerability to future climate and environmental change; and, representing WCS at meetings and events.
Major Responsibilities:
- Coordinating and supervising the implementation of all WCS Mozambique Country Program projects and activities, including ensuring financial and administrative support for field and office activities.
- Establishing and maintaining excellent working relationships with partners and donors. Meeting regularly with project partners, relevant government agencies, and community leaders. Serving as a liaison between the Country Program and other scientific and conservation bodies in the country and elsewhere.
- Ensuring WCS Mozambique’s community engagement protocols follow best international and nationally recommended practice for free, prior, and informed consent, and allowing this process to be guided by national staff.
- Raising the profile of WCS Mozambique’s conservation efforts through the dissemination of project results widely in the peer-reviewed and popular literature. Writing and publishing documents, reports, books and papers and/or supporting program staff to do so. Maintaining active roles in professional societies. Attending relevant meetings, workshops, and strategy sessions in the country and the region (where required).
- Collaborating with the Regional Director, Global Conservation thematic programs and Global Resources to secure funding for the Program. Working to maintain a diversified funding base at a sustainable level to support Program activities.
- Overseeing grant and financial reporting and ensuring that draft reports are submitted with adequate time for internal review.
- Hiring, managing and contributing to capacity building of Country Program staff, while contributing to enlarging and upholding the Society’s policies, including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies, towards equal employment opportunities for women, minorities, veterans, the handicapped and other protected groups.
- Participating in and contributing to WCS’s cross-cutting and global conservation initiatives in the region.
- Liaising with other parts of WCS where appropriate, including but not limited to communications, international policy, Global Resources, Grants Management and Compliance, and Global Conservation Program Thematic Program staff.
Qualification Requirements
- Applicants should have a PhD, MBA, or MSc with commensurate experience managing complex institutions, with expertise in the conservation, natural resource management and/or development sectors.
- Minimum 8 years’ experience managing terrestrial and/or marine field conservation projects, project budgets, and staff, particularly in remote and/or developing country settings.
- Demonstrated success working with diverse partners to achieve common objectives.
- Ability to train and build capacity in field research, community-based natural resource management, conservation advocacy, and project management.
- Commitment to uphold transparency and accountability in overseeing compliance with WCS and donor policies and procedures.
- Familiar with conservation issues in the country and region and committed to the mission of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
- Applicants should be willing to live full-time in the country, be willing to travel extensively in remote locations, have excellent problem-solving skills and be flexible to low and middle-income country constraints.
- Professional proficiency in English and Portuguese.
Preferred requirements:
- Experience working in other countries in the region strongly preferred. Experience managing multilateral and bilateral funded projects (such as European Union, AFD, KFW and USAID) is desirable.
- Professional proficiency in the language(s) of the country.
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organisation complies with all employment and labour laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value. The organisation provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organisation does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, colour, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS-sponsored recreational activities and facilities.
The organisation complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, selection, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS-sponsored recreational activities and facilities.
The organisation complies with the spirit and intent of relevant local laws and WCS’s employment policies.
Interested candidates who meet the above qualifications, skills, and experience should apply through the application tab by September 11th, 2025.
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Salary Range
Competitive salary commensurate with experience
